22 Days Trek & Tour Nanga Parbat Round Trek with Hunza, Swat & Peshawar

Visit the Federal Capital of Pakistan: Islamabad. Visit Faisal Mosque, Damen-e-Koh, Constitution Avenue, Lok Virsa Museum, and Shakar Parian Park. Overnight at the hotel.

Morning drive to Peshawar, on the Grand Trunk Road laid down by the Pathan Emperor of United Indian Empire: Sher Shah Suri. En-route visiting Taxila, the former capital of Gandhara civilization. We visit the archaeological remains of a monastery (Julian), a city (Sirkup ), and the site museum. Continue to drive to Peshawar. Crossing the Indus River at Attock, we may stop for a photo at the meeting point of the Indus & Kabul rivers just beyond the Attock bridge. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Peshawar has always been important in the history of the sub-continent because of its location nearby: Khyber Pass & Gandhara civilization. The city is now known more for its special feeling of being a frontier town than for its monuments. Visit the street of story-tellers: Kissa Khawani bazaar, the street of Gold Kasera bazaar, Karavan Serai, and Mahabat Khan Mosque & Museum of Peshawar, known for its collection of Gandhara artifacts. Dinner & overnight stay at hotel Peshawar. (170 km, 3/4 Hours)

Crossing over the historic Malakand Pass, the pass between Peshawar and Swat valleys, we will enter Swat valley. En-route visiting another Buddhist archeological site, Takht-e-Bhai, and some other places we will reach in Swat valley. Swat, a land that shines with fruit-laden orchards, flower-filled slopes, meandering rivers, rumbling streams, and is surrounded by the mighty ranges of the Hindu Kush and Karakoram. The valley is 2,250 feet above sea level, Saidu Sharif & Mingora are the towns that form the twin capital of this valley. Visit Swat museum and Butkara excavation site from 1st to 7th century AD. Transfer to hotel for an overnight stay in Mingora.

As it is a long drive so we will take an early start from Swat. Continuing on the road leading towards the upper Swat valley for one hour we will turn North from a small beautiful town called Khuaza Khaila. Now driving on a single mountain road we will be crossing Shangla Pass between Hindukush & Karakoram mountain ranges. After crossing Shangla Pass we will enter the Karakoram and arrive at Besham. An important city on the Karakoram Highway. Lunch in Besham and continue to drive now on the Karakoram highway, a joint effort of Pakistan Army and Chinese engineers. It took 850 lives and 20 years to complete reputed as the eighth wonder of the world. Driving through the Indus gorge we will arrive at Chilas on the bank of Indus. Transfer to hotel for dinner and night stay. (9/10 hours drive)

Early morning drive to Jaglot on KKH, from Jaglot board on 4×4 jeeps. Drive to Trashing our trek head. En route short stay at Astore, 56 km from Jaglot, Astore is an important place as many treks and jeep road towards Deosai and Kashmir starts from here. Trashing the start of Rupal Valley is 30 kms from Astore. Mostly the population here in Trashing is Kashmiri and Shina speaking. At Trashing our camping staff will welcome us. Overnight camping at Trashing. (6/7 hours drive – 2900m).

The first half-hour of the trek is steep up to the lateral moraine of Trashing Glacier then it will take another half hour to cross the glacier. At the
other side of the glacier is the lower Rupal Valley with two large summer settlements and big fields of wheat. From the lower Rupal Valley trek is green and gradually ascending. After about three hour’s walk from here, we will arrive at Bazin just under the solid ice wall of the east face of Nanga Parbat. Overnight camping in Bazin. (4/5 hours trek -3600m)

Today at the start of the trek we walk on the Bazin Glacier which takes about two hours. After crossing the glacier, the trek is going through Juniper and
Willow trees. The local people of the area are friendly and helpful. The trek continues up to the Rupal River. An hour’s walk will take us to a place called Herligkoffer Base Camp. He was a famous climber and lead many expeditions to Nanga Parbat. Herligkoffer was also the leader of the Nanga Parbat Expedition in 1953 when Herman Buhl climbed it for the first time. After a short stay here we walk further for about an hour and reach a place called Second Base Camp, another summer settlement. Our campsite Shaigiri is not very far from here after an hour`s walk we will arrive at Shaigiri. Normally porters asked here for a goat and they slaughter the goat here and arrange a campfire with local songs and dances. Enjoy the beautiful views of South Face. (5/6 hours, 3700m)

Day free to explore the area or optional climb to Rupal Peak (5580m).

Follow the lateral moraine of Rupal Glacier. Turn your backs on views of Nanga Parbat, Rupal, and Laila Peaks. The campsite is at 4200m with few
Juniper trees and a small water stream. (4/5 hours)

Trek is comparatively steep and ascending up to the Mazeno glacier which is coming straight from Mazeno Pass. The campsite is not green anymore because of the height. Water is available. The high base camp is at 4724meters. (5/6 hours)

Early morning start before sunrise. The climb up to the pass is not very difficult but another side of the pass is steep and it requires rope, ice ax,
sits harness, and crampons. The steep area is about 250m in length. After crossing the pass Loiba glacier starts and we will camp here at upper Loiba at a height of 4300m. (7/8 hours)

Trek down from upper Loiba to Lower Loiba called Loiba Meadows. It is a comfortable walk through the lush green meadows and trees. Campsite consists of many shepherds houses at of 4000m. (3/4 hours)

Today we will have beautiful views of Nanga Parbat and the trek is very easy through pine and birch trees cross Airil River and enter the Kachal summer settlement at the base of Kachal pass (4400m). We will camp at 3000m. (4/5 hours)

From Kachal four treks are crossed, one is going to Kachal Pass, the second is going to Zangot, the third is going back to Loiba, and the fourth one to Diamer Base camp. We will take the Diamer Base camp trek a small water channel is flowing along the trek and the trek is gradually ascending, En route short stay in Kutgali. Arrive at Diamer Face base camp. World`s most famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner climbed Nanga Parbat from this side in 1979 and he lost his brother on their way back. It is reputed as the most difficult route of Nanga Parbat. Short stay for exploration and photos. Walk back by the same route and camp at Zangot 4200m. (6/7 hr)

Warm and bit steep trek down to Diamer river to arrive Dimroi. From Dimroi board on 4×4 jeeps and continued towards Gilgit, capital of Northern areas of Pakistan. Arrive at Gilgit transfer to hotel and enjoy a hot shower. (7/8 hours trek, 4 hours drive)

We drive out from Gilgit to re-enter the town from the historic route, crossing a suspension bridge over the river. Drive to Kargah to visit the rock-carved Buddha from the 7th century AD. In ancient times the Kargah valley used to be the traveling route of the Buddhist monks, to go to Taxila. Stroll down the colorful Bazaars of Gilgit. The tour will continue to the beautiful, breathtaking Hunza Valley through a scenic route. On our way, we see the old Silk Route used by the Buddhist monks and traders. En route short stay at Rakaposhi (7,788m) viewpoint. Enter the Hunza valley and arrive at the capital Karimabad. Overnight at Hotel. (2/3 hr, 110 km)

Day free in Karimabad for short walks to ALTIT and BALTIT Forts, and for other explorations in Hunza Valley. The people of Hunza are famous for their long lives. You can also see some beautiful peaks of Karakoram range from Karimabad; Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar, Golden peak, and the Nagar valley on the left bank of Hunza River. In Hunza, each family grows enough wheat, maize, apricots, and walnuts for its own use. The people are mostly self-sufficient, making their own clothes, shoes, wooden and stone bowls, and growing all their own food. The people are very friendly and cheerful. In the afternoon you could walk to Ultar glacier, follow the irrigation channel through the village or stroll through the single lane bazaar for better views of soaring peaks around you. Overnight stay at Hote

Short drive through the heart of Karakoram. We stop at the village of Gulmit, in the shadow of virgin Gulmit tower. Walkthrough the village fields to visit the Polo ground and old houses. Later take a short trek to Gulkin glacier and Borit Lake. As you end your trek near Borit Lake, the transport will pick you up for a 15 km drive to Passu. Passu is a small charming village in the backdrop of soaring Passu Cones, with Passu and Batura glaciers at short walking distance. Walkthrough the village to see the village life. Some 70 years ago Passu used to be the second-largest settlement in Hunza after Karimabad. The glacier upstream on the Hunza river moved down to create a large dam, that later broke and destroyed the fertile fields and houses. Now the river occupies the major share of the valley with the village on its right bank. From Passu you have fascinating views of Shispar (7,611 m) and Passu Peak (7,478 m). Visit the famous suspension bridges of Passu. These 800 feet long bridges over the Hunza river are still used by the local people. Later drive to the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, the highest metal road border crossing in the world. Spend some time at Khunjerab top and drive back to Karimabad for an Overnight stay at the hotel.

Drive along the bank of Hunza river on Karakoram Highway, enjoying fascinating views of Karakoram Peaks from a different angle. We might stop at Gilgit town for lunch. Arrive Chilas on the bank of Indus river, overnight stay in hotel. (260 km, 6/7 hours drive.)

Full-day drive on Karakoram Highway to Islamabad. We start early in the morning, to cover the 12 hours long drive. Short stay in Besham for lunch, by evening we will reach Islamabad. Transfer to hotel for overnight. (11/12 hours, 500 km)

Morning transfer to Airport for your international flight back to home.